To close out the brand’s landmark 40th Anniversary year, Kenneth Cole is excited to announce a special collaboration with Sesame Workshop, the global impact nonprofit organization behind Sesame Street, supporting the mental health and emotional well-being of young children and families.
Under the overarching concept of “here for you on sunny days, and cloudy ones, too”, the unisex capsule collection for kids and adults embodies the personalities of beloved Sesame Street characters, voicing care for the mental well-being of yourself and others. The hoodies and t-shirts feature classic graphics, supportive phrases, and playful imagery such as “It’s OK to be Grouchy,” “Share Cookies, Share Kindness,” and “Elmo Has Sad Days Too.” The white canvas sneakers are designed by acclaimed footwear designer Alexander John Studios and come in four colorways, each with accents and embellishments tied to Oscar the Grouch (green), Cookie Monster (blue), Elmo (red) and Count von Count (purple).
“As a father, a designer, and founder of the Mental Health Coalition, it was a natural fit for the brand to collaborate with the renowned and respected Sesame Workshop,” said Kenneth Cole, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer and Chairman and Co-Founder of the Mental Health Coalition. “As Founder and Chairman of MHC, focusing on projects through a lens of mental health has been really important to me, and the Sesame Workshop team feels equally as strongly about taking on the stigma associated with seeking support for children’s mental health and providing supportive resources. Together, we have created an impactful collection that helps to raise awareness around children’s emotional well-being.”
For 40 years, Kenneth Cole has stayed relevant by leveraging his passion and unique brand platform to make a meaningful impact on people’s wardrobes, as well as communities in need.
In celebration of the collection, The Kenneth Cole Foundation has made a donation to support Sesame Workshop’s emotional well-being initiative and, in celebration of the collection, is generously and broadly supporting causes that help destigmatize mental health.
Sesame Workshop’s mission is to help children everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. Working at the intersection of education, media, and research for over 50 years, Sesame Workshop and the show’s beloved characters create joyful experiences that enrich minds and expand hearts.
Earlier this year, Sesame Workshop announced a new organization-wide focus supporting the emotional well-being of young children and their families – a cause that is closely aligned with Kenneth Cole’s mission to champion social impact initiatives with a focus on mental health.
“Responding to the growing mental health crisis of young children, Sesame Workshop is addressing this critical need through a wide range of activities and engaging content to help children develop the essential skills they need to understand and manage their feelings,” said Sherrie Westin, President of Sesame Workshop. “We are proud to collaborate with Kenneth Cole to help give voice to this important topic.”